The Writers Bridge | Funny on Purpose: The Craft of Writing Comedy
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The Writers Bridge | Funny on Purpose: The Craft of Writing Comedy
October 21 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT
With Emmy-award winning writer Elliott Kalan, former Head Writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
What’s the difference between a book that makes people smile and one that makes them snort-laugh on the subway?
Intent. And technique.
Most writers stumble into humor by accident—a clever turn of phrase here, a self-deprecating moment there. But award-winning comedy writer Elliott Kalan (winner of four Emmys, a Peabody, and Head Writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) knows something most authors don’t: being funny on purpose is a learnable skill, whether you’re writing memoir, fiction, or anything in between.
In this months’ Writers Bridge, Elliott will reveal why relying on natural wit isn’t enough—and how his “joke farming” method can help you cultivate intentional humor that enhances your story. He’ll show you how to plant comedic moments that feel organic, tend to them with the right structure and timing, and harvest laughs that serve your larger narrative.
Join us TUESDAY October 21st at 1PM EASTERN – live and FREE on Zoom, all welcome!
Our special guest
Elliott Kalan is an Emmy, Peabody, and Writers Guild Award–winning television writer and producer whose credits include head writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and head writer for the reboot of Mystery Science Theater 3000, among other shows. He is currently executive producer and showrunner for the forthcoming Ghostbusters animated series on Netflix.
Elliott also hosts or cohosts the podcasts SmartLess Presents: ClueLess, The Flop House, and The Power Broker, a limited series from 99% Invisible. Additional writing credits include the history podcast Presidents Are People, Too!, the children’s sketch comedy show The Who Was? Show, three children’s picture books, and comic book series for Marvel and DC Comics.
Join your hosts Allison K Williams (SEVEN DRAFTS), Sharla Yates (CRAFT TALKS) and our special guest for this lively, funny hour of frank talk about writing comedy, writing for TV, and the wonderful chaos of the writers’ room.
FREE, all welcome! Sign up to receive the Zoom link the day before.
Enjoy past recorded sessions here
Closed captioning is available. ✔
All registrants receive the recording. ✔
ABOUT YOUR PRESENTERS
Allison K Williams has edited and coached authors to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, St. Martin’s Press, and numerous small presses. An expert in author marketing and community building, her platform includes the Brevity Blog (80k+ followers), Instagram (10k+), a mailing list (12k+), and Facebook (5k+), with publications in the New York Times and appearances on NPR and CBC. Her book, Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book, sold on proposal. She leads the Rebirth Your Book writing retreats and co-hosts The Writers Bridge.
Sharla Yates is the author of the poetry chapbook What I Would Say if We Were to Drown Tonight, published by Stranded Oak Press (2017). She hosts a webinar series, CRAFT TALKS for writers on writing, and co-hosts The Writers Bridge with Allison K Williams. Her nonfiction essay, “Address” was a finalist for the 2015 Columbia Journal writing contest and the 2016 Penelope Niven Creative Nonfiction Award. She is the former Director of Education at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation and teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.
Questions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com
